CHAAPTER 47

All my senses were at alert. My heart was thudding in my chest, and beads of perspiration had formed around my forehead.

“Hazel,” Christian called, reaching out to grab my arm. But I was already out of reach. I ran across the length of the park, down to the area where Valerie had been playing with her friend, but she wasn’t there.

“Valerie!” I called out. I could see Christian walking towards me. His lips were moving like he was saying something, but I was unable to hear anything over the blood rushing to my head. “Oh God,” I panted, still running around like a crazy person. My head was filled with all kinds of thoughts, all coming to a single conclusion. Mark had gotten to her, he had taken her. We had only looked away for a second but Mark had snatched her up, and it was all my fault. I didn’t even want to think of what he might do to her. He wouldn’t hurt a child, right? If anything happened to her, I would never be able to forgive myself.

“Valerie!” I yelled again, feeling bile ri